1 Green Party Spring Conference Blackpool Winter Gardens 20-23 March 2009 If found, please return to: Name Local Party Promoted by Jon Nott, The Green Party, 1a Waterlow Road, London 5NJ. N19 Printed by Design PMS & Print, London Recsyn4QP Sydenham, SE26 House, Willow 10 Way, 2 3 Welcome to Green Party Spring Conference 2009 at the Blackpool Winter Gardens Peter Cranie, not only on environmental issues, but in Lead Euro Candidate, providing a practical vision for a better North West Region Britain. Green policy on social justice, housing, jobs and transport will provide the vision that the other parties lack. We need a progressive vision, and We’d like to once again welcome members nowhere is that contrast more starkly seen here to the North West for Conference. than in the North West. In this region, the Our venue at the Winter Gardens is contest for the final Euro seat is likely to fantastic and a fitting launch point for be between the Greens and the BNP. It’s a our European Election campaign here in contest we can and must win. the North West. So a warm welcome to you all. Let’s Britain is in recession. The red, yellow work together at this Conference, as and blue parties have dogmatically Greens, to put our ideas and our vision followed free market economics and across to the electorate of Britain. There deregulation. They have led us down has never been a more important time a cul-de-sac in terms of economic and for us to meet together, so please make political thinking. the most of your time here at Conference, That is why Green Party Conference and please do use it to get ready for the is so important. We are leading the way European Election campaign. paigning hard to defend our two existing seats in the European Parliament and to break through in other regions. Every member can make a difference by helping in the elections, and with a full day of training on Sunday you can pick Caroline Lucas, Leader up plenty of tips and share experiences. Adrian Ramsay, Deputy Leader The training is doubly important given that there could be a General Election at Welcome to Spring Conference and to the any time. Speaking of which, if your lo- magnificent Winter Gardens. Blackpool cal party has not yet selected its General is the perfect destination for this confer- Election candidates please do so without ence and not just for the beach, bars and delay. We want to ensure we stand more bright lights. The North West is one of our candidates than ever before! target regions for the European election The conference programme is packed and we’re also close to Lancaster where with interesting policy discussions, pan- one of the most successful local parties in el debates and evening entertainment. the country has 12 City Councillors. We’ll also be attempting to break the This conference comes at a crucial time. world record for the biggest ever canvass Next month will see nominations open on Sunday afternoon in the Lancaster and for the European and County Council Fleetwood constituency. elections on 4th June. These elections are We look forward to talking to members a vital opportunity to make more Green during the conference. gains across the country. We’re cam- Have a good time! 4 Keeping it Green Recycling: recycling bins are in every room; please use them Lights: turn off lights in empty rooms Badge holders: please return at the end or bring with you next time Crockery: please help the venue staff by returning used crockery Safety & security: please keep gangways, entrances and exits clear Smile: enjoy yourself, and if you’re an old hand, give a warm welcome to newcomers Thank You Conferences Committee & Clover Events Please wear your badge at all times There will be no access to the venue after 6pm without your conference badge Would you like to help organise future Green Party Conferences? A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes to make confer- ence happen, and conference committee needs more members to share the load and make sure we continue to make conference more attractive and affordable to members, stallholders and the wider world! If interested please speak to an existing member of conferences committee (Sue Luxton, Emily Heath or Mohammed Jiwa) for more info, and consider putting yourself forward for election! 5 Contents How Conference Works ........................................................................................................6-7 Final Agenda .............................................................................................................................8-42 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................8 List of contacts .............................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Section A (Reports) ..............................................................................................................................9-12 A1 Standing Orders Committee Report ........................................................................................................................ 9 A2 Policy Committee Report ........................................................................................................................................... 10 A3 Dispute Resolution Committee................................................................................................................................. 11 A4 GPEx Report ................................................................................................................................................................... 11 A5 Changes to SOC Standing Orders ............................................................................................................................. 12 Section B (Voting Papers).....................................................................................................................13 B10 Tourism voting paper ................................................................................................................................................. 13 Section C (Policy Motions) ...................................................................................................................19-32 (Numbers in brackets refer to number of prioritisation votes received) C01 Campaigning for an alternative economic strategy (50) ................................................................................ 19 C02 Migration motion (39) .............................................................................................................................................. 20 C03 Domestic abuse (29) ................................................................................................................................................. 21 C04 Gender and asylum(24) ............................................................................................................................................ 22 C05 Maternity services(24) ............................................................................................................................................. 22 C06 Bringing climate change policy up to date (20) ................................................................................................. 23 C07 Zero carbon Britain (19) ........................................................................................................................................... 23 C08 Women in employment and business (18) ......................................................................................................... 24 C09 Intellectual property (15) ........................................................................................................................................ 24 Timetable ..................................................................................................................................25-28 C10 Concentrating solar power and European grids (14) ....................................................................................... 29 C11 Monetary policy (13) ................................................................................................................................................. 29 C12 Global financial archetecture(13) .......................................................................................................................... 30 C13 Carbon capture and storage pilot projects (11) ................................................................................................ 30 C14 Climate motion: geo engineering (5) ................................................................................................................... 30 C15 Criminal justice (5) ...................................................................................................................................................... 31 C16 Natural gas storage in underground salt caverns (5) ...................................................................................... 31 C17 Northern Ireland (4) .................................................................................................................................................. 32 Section D (Organisational Motions) ....................................................................................................33-34 D01 Subscription rates (B) (44) ......................................................................................................................................